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Being spiritual and resourceful go hand-in-hand

Voices of Religion

The author and preacher G. K. Chesterton once sat in a group of other literary experts who were being interviewed. Someone asked the writers what book they would most want to have with them if stranded on a deserted island. "The complete works of Shakespeare," the first author fired off without hesitation. "I choose the Bible," said another. The great man of God, Chesterton, replied: "I would choose Thomas' Guide to Practical Shipbuilding."

That's a great answer! I love a man who is down-to-earth. I enjoy someone who has both feet firmly planted on the ground and can do the wise thing in any given situation, which is often the simple thing. On a recent edition of the TV show Mythbusters our two heroes were stranded on a deserted island with nothing but a near-infinite supply of duct tape. They were able to rest under duct tape shelters and rest on duct tape hammocks. They even built a duct tape boat which carried them and supplies off the island and kept them high and dry for a full day in the open ocean.

This is the type of spirituality talked about in the Bible. The spiritual man is not some other-worldly person who must of necessity wear long robes and sit on a mountain top. He might just be someone wearing a duct tape hat.

The Bible describes the very depths of the spiritual human being in this manner. The person who has two coats and sees someone without a coat will give him one of those coats. This is a person in touch with God. Someone who has a cup of cold water and spies someone else who is thirsty will give that cup of water in God's name. And the truly spiritual always has an eye out for the widow and the orphan and the hungry.

Do you have a spiritual bucket list? Do you have a list of things you want to do for God and others before you die? If not, here are some suggestions.

1. Spend an entire day alone with God.

2. Go an entire week without complaining.

3. Go on a mission trip. Change nations for one Sunday!

4. Cook a meal for a poor person.

5. Visit someone in the hospital or at Heritage Place.

6. Read the entire Bible.

7. Look for the saddest person you know, say a prayer for them, and send them a card.

8. Start praying for someone who has hurt you badly.

9. Give up something valuable for God. That means give up something valuable to you. It may not be money. It might be time or something else.

10. ????

#10 is for you to fill in. Or perhaps you have your own list of ten that would not include those written above. Go for it! God grant us a practical Christianity, one that is simple and good.